Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 4 sheetssheet 1.

D. C.- STOVBR. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 2,-V 1892.

W 91 mm l :uns coA. :morro-umu.. msnmovon o c (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2..

D. C. STOVER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

M45-Lorna J.

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we norms pmzs nu.. wom-ums., msnmmow, u. c.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3. D. G. STOVER.

TYPE WRITING MAGHlNE.

Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

THE Nonms Pn'rzns co.. moywumn., wnsnmam o. c:Y

4 Sheets- Sheet 4.

D. C. STOVER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No Mode.)

No. 468,139. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

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1ML wonms refus co., moro-umu.. wwmnnmn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEI. C. S"OVER, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,139, dated February 2, 1892.

Application tiled September 26, 1890. Serial No. 366,234. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL C. STOVER, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Type- Wfriting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention involves novel means forenabling the operator to see each character as it is formed, and, indeed, the entire length of-one or more lines, for spacing both letters and lines, for moving the carriage in each direc tion, for operating the ribbon, for throwing into place characters not normally in position to print, and for securing various other results, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a partial plan View of a machine embodying my devices. Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. l is a partial front view of a machine and its stand or table. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a certain swinging frame. Figs. G and 7 are modifications of certain reflecting devices. Fig. 8 is a plan of the ribbon-carrier. Fig. 9 shows certain lever-locking devices. Fig. 10 illustrates gearing together with the feed-roller and platen. Fig. ll is a detached view of a certain springwasher of Fig. l.

In the drawings, A is a frame supporting such other parts of themechanism as are not more directly connected with the stand, and B is a transverse shaft upon which most of the keylevers C are fulcrumed in the usual manner. For clearness in the drawings one only of these levers and one only of the typearnis are shown.

In the upper and rear part of the frame A is fixed a horizontal circular segment D, in which radial studsE are secured by set-screws E in such manner as to admit of both rotary and longitudinal adjustment. Type-arms G are hinged, respectively, to these studs, by the rotary adjustment of which the several arms are caused to swing to a common point vnear the center of the machine, where each is so bentthat its free end may lie in the medial line passing from front to rear of the frame.

Near the middle of the machine is a transverse vertical frame II, of rectangular outline, supported in the main frame A, near its base, upon conical pivots I-I. The upper member of this frame is a rounded bar H, which projects beyond the side members and serves as a support or track upon which the carriage may readily move back and forth.

The carriage I consists, primarily, of end plates I, whose corresponding front and rear ends are connected, respectively, by bars I I In the front part of the carriage is revolubly mounted a platen J, having at one end of its shaft a milled disk by which it may be conveniently rotated. In the rear of the platen is a semi-cylindrical saddle K, open below and fixed in the carriage in position to rest upon the upper rounded member of the frame H, from which, however, it may be lifted and beyond the ends of which it may project as it slides back and forth. The rear wing of the saddle supports a common bar or rack L, having the usual teeth upon its rear edge. A thin metallic sheet M is secured upon the top of the bar last named, and, bending over the saddle, and thence downward, following the curve of the platen, it forms a paper-guide. Above the saddle is a paper-feeding roller N, mounted in the carriage and provided at one end with a ratchet-disk N. The forward end of a peculiar lever O is pivoted upon the rollershatt contiguous to the ratchet, and upon this lever is pivoted a pawl P, which engages the ratchet and rotates the roller when the lever is swung in the proper direction by means to be described. The carriage is moved longitudinally by a cord o., attached beneath and wound upon a cone-pulley Q at the bottom of the frame and upon its left side. This is inclosed in case Q, and is actuated by a coiled spring within it in the same manner as the analogous construction in the earlier forms of watch-movements. The carriage is moved in the contrary direction, after the completion of a line, by a second cord ct', attached to the middle of its lower side and passing over suit able pulleys R to the upper end of an approximately vertical lever R', whose lower end is hinged to the stand in position to be conveniently swung to one side, as indicated in dotted lines, by the knee of the operator. The lever, being of considerable length, is

adapted to be readily operated whatever theV height of the knee. The rear bar I of; the carriage is embraced by forked projections S' from a parallel bar S fixed in the main frame of the machine, and slides freely therein both longitudinally 'and laterally-longit-ndinally when the carriage passes back andforth Ain printing and laterally whenv the carriage is thrown eitherforward or rearwardtobring into use different types upon the same type-arm. Between the projections which hold it against longitudinal movement is a sleeve I4, loosely mounted upon the bar 1 and having in front a multiple-pointed pawl Tto engage :the .ra-ckbar. A second pawl T slides upon the first through the .space of one 4rack-tooth, and is drawn-in a contrary direction'bv aspring T, rlhe two pawls are alternately thrown; into en gagement with the rack by asli-ghtrotaryfmotion ofthe sleeve produced by any of Ethe typeleversor by a .space-lever Vrinlthefimiddleof the machine. c The leversall actithnolugh a rod W, attached toithe lower .pawh andonnectedy .belowiwith a Erectangular@swinging p frame X TX', Awhose front -member Xfre'sts upon allI thezedges eof :allthe levers and whose rear memberis pivoted ingthe sides of ythe f mainframe B. To limitxhemiotion, ofithe pawls; -the :member Xkis: .provided :atene .end

with aidownwaridly-extending-arm,XC,which i normally restslagainst a ',lugYfupon thennain frame, the upper vpawl i being.engagedv with the rack. 1 :When the frame is thrown upward to bring the-lower-pawliinto, engagement with thewracknthisarm! strikes aspning Ytrandis thus limitedf in, movement, ,the springbein g strongenough toperfectly resisttheA ordinary spacing-key bepressed with greateriforcethe resistance of r .the springtisovercome,and,the pawls: are both! Vthrown above therack, leaving? -the-:carriageefree .top move in4 either dir-ec- Y", "whichA fprevents unnecessarily great ,displacement. .l

f tThemarriage1 is-:th rown bodilyforward2 or rearwardfnomthe. normal (illustratedypositionbyfthewswinging ofi-.the .frame H, upon which itirests. tf'lhis is accomplished bytwo..

keyflevers V. V,s(shown atthe rightside of neath=the lleversfromthefends of rigidarms c c', extending,respectively, forward and rearwardV from the base ofthe frame- I-I, whose oscillation iszlimitedby lugs dd upon-the main frame-near its top. Upon, the opposite E side of the arms 'c c .lugs b b,'projectbe-l neath andati; spring e, secured at `eachend against upward .movement `upon the side of -the 4main frame. `Thespring holds the frame independently pivoted at the rear of the machine. A

It being desirable to have means for 'locking the swinging frame when in either its forward or rearward position, the devices shown in Figs. 3 and 9 are employed. .ports f are hinged ,to the Vforward end of the corresponding levers, and each is provided 4witha notch in its front edge, so that 'when the key is depressed it may, by swinging for- `-ward, engage a fixed stud or catch g, project- ,ing from the main frame. The lever is thus kept depressed, and the frame, and conse- `quently :the carriage which it bears, must remain frame over theI rearI bar ,o fjrlie, carriage and having its ,innelend pressing-nt n higher penttheieeeef n lngyl ilnnnnnenffgthe'prejeetiene S- l heelneticty ,10i 'the bien 7.1, holds eprejeeten. hiainfqnepfwoi @,Q nenreeeinnein .the-lng Jtnhenp enr @Selbeiehelnployed einen Meuble begin n lineathe; levenOfneets n'PQn-.ihejbni h, neer. its inner end., end ne marriage edf ,vances stepby step, thelfever, idefsalongf Tthe bnryandnfnls. fglnfnnlla until @he att-nahm pnwl .hner-penned., ,evergieneentwe vteeth, rfirten the-ratchet Nwhose` Vfollowing"rotation 4` is preventedbya .seeendpnwl P- Aeltheverer passespffthegbar it isk supportedby apin mi When @he line ie enlnplenesfane ,the entries@ returns toits. primary ppsitionuthe lever'xrides along ,the upWardly-inclinedbar, andactingV thmllsh its pnwl, necesarilygretnteethernller, .i ,Frornthelower `rear sideofpthesleeveV I4 prejee tWQ rigid, anne Heeren hearin'ga .pawl 1.6 to engage a.,ratchet I? V,upon ,one fwtlwo ribbon-'spools'k- These latter are loosely ynnoiinted,v upon a ,shaftegtending froijn,Qside, toside of;A the machine.. Qne f only; of.: E thesey Rawls works p at any1 given time,l`the,'other;y bein g .thrown back nponth'efired ,bar SrlnntilQthe transfer of. ,the ,ribbon from one lspool Y to the other. necessitates reversingthe; pawlsf I Between the spools is .a sleeve m,looselylnount ed upon the spool-shaft, and from itp'rojects a ribbon-carrying arm m. .This ,ijs bifurcated near. its l freeend, and each, branch' is f'pro- :ride-dA with n tnfninebareb-lqne man@ 'alenasidev of, the normalv path of. the ribbonentend`- ins from, the ee'r'respending epeehwhereby .the ribbonepaslsing aroundboth turning bars mayI advance continuously frolnron'ejsfpvoql to the other and'atthe same time lie'lbetlween ,the turninglbars in a :planepracticallyparallel to the axis of the platembenjeathzand at main in the new position till the key-support en nnrn e). .p 110i eetine .frein the. leftsepf [the The key-sup- IOO ITO

some distance from the surface of which both bars are supported by the arm m', which swings in a stirrup n, depending from the bar S. The type-arms Gr all normally drop below the plane of their hinges and rest against a bar o, iixed across the main frame in position to receive them. Each arm has near its hinge a collar p, which is connected by a rod p with the rear end of the corresponding keylever below. The type-ar1ns bear at their free ends three types, of which the middle one strikes the platen when the carriage is in its normal position. As each arm swings upward to impress its character in a plane oblique to the segment from which all are suspended, it tends to strike the platen obliquely. To correct this tendency, there is provided a small plate q, depending from a cross-bar q', iiXed to the frame H near the common point for the arms, and having in its lower margin a gradually-narrowin g notch, which at length becomes Vertical. .Each arm swings into the notch, and is thereby caused to strike the platen perpendicularly by changing its course in the last eighth of an inch of its path. Such change necessitates yielding at some point, and it is found desirable to provide for it by ilattening each arm near its hinge, so that While retaining all its rigidity in its striking plane it readily springs in a transverse direction. As the type-arm swings upward to print,

it strikes and carries with it the ribbon, the

whole carrier swinging upon the spool-axis and the two branches passing upon opposite sides of the notched directing-plate. As the type-arm recedes, the carrier follows from the force of gravity, aided by a spring, it' neces sary, until it is arrested by the stirrup n.

A little in front of and below the platen is mounted a reflector r, which permits the operator to see, without raising the eyes from the key-board, all characters near the printing-point as fast as they are impressed upon the paper. For erecting the image of the characters the reflector may be so formed as to give a double reflection, as in Fig. 6, or it maybe replaced by two distinct reflectors, as in Fig. 7'. As shown, the reflector is pivoted on or in the main frame and provided with milled rotating nuts s and spring-washers s' to maintain the desired angle. It is also shown as short, so that it can show to the eye only a small portion ot a line; but it may be of any convenient length, so that one or more entire lines may be read, and itmay be `otherwise supported-c. g., from the carriage,

as suggested by the dotted lines t.

If desired, the feed-roller and platen may be geared together to give them a simultaneous positive motion, and the construction may be varied in many other minor points without material change in the invention or the use of more than the ordinary skill of the me chanic.

Vhat I claim isl. The combination, with a platen, of a ribbon-carrier pivotally suspended and extending beneath the platen in position to be swung against it bythe striking types, and a mirror mounted in position to reflect rays from the point of impression, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with'a platen, of a ribbon-carrier pivoted at one side of its center ot' gravity and extending beneath the platen in position to be swung against it by the striking types, whereby it may automatically swing away from the platen after each impression, and a mirror mounted in position to reflect rays from the line of impression upon the platen, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the main frame, of the vertical frame pivoted at its lower side in the main frame and provided with the forwardly and rearwardly projecting arms, the key-levers acting, respectively, upon the ends of said arms, and a spring resisting the displacing force of the key-levers.

et. The combination, with the rack-bar and oscillating pawls, substantially as set forth, of a spring resisting oscillation beyond the amount necessary to throw one of the pawls out of and the other into engagement with the rack, but yielding to permit both to pass out of engagement when greater force is applied.

5. The type-arms hinged to swing to a common point upon revolubly and longitudinally adjustable `studs lying in lines radiating from substantially the common point.

6. The combination, with the circular segment, of radial studs revolubly and longitudinally adjustable therein, type-arms hinged to said studs, and means for securing said studs' in any desired rotary or longitudinal adjustment.

'7. The combination, with the vertical frame pivoted at its lower side and normally springretained in its vertical position, of a carriage supported upon and swinging with said frame, two keys operating, respectively, to swing said frame forward and rearward of its vertical position to certain limits upon its pivotal axis, and means whereby the frame may be locked at either limit.

S. The combination, with the circular segment having radial perforations ot circular cross-section, of studs fitting in said perforations, type-arms hinged to said studs, and means for locking the studs in position.

9. The combination, with the frame and the sliding carriage bearing the platen and contiguous feed-roller, of the lever pivoted upon the roller-shaft, mechanism whereby raising the rear end of said lever rotates the feedroller, a transverse bar beneath the rear end of said lever pivoted at one end to the frame and provided at the other with a projection spring-pressed into one of several retainingrecesses, whereby the return of the carriage rotates the feed-rollera predetermined amount.-

10. The combinatiomwith type-arms hinged in a circle and swinging to a common point in planes oblique to that circle, of a plate IOO IIO

11. The combination, with the ribbon-spool and the carriage rack-bar, of the pivotallymounted sleeve bearing upon one side, the.

two detent-pawls to engage the earriageraokbar, and upon the opposite side p21-WIS operating to rotate the ribbon-spool, substantially Yas set forth.

12. The Combination, with the sliding ciu'- rage, of the fixed forked projections embraeing its rear member, the sleeve revolubly mounted upon seid memberbetween the projections, and the detent-pawls projecting from said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

DANIEL C. STOVER.

n Witnesses:

WALLACE GREENE, MARTIN S. DECKER. 

